President Maithripala Sirisena is in Thailand making a three-day official visit and attending the second Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit. The Dialogue Summit that brings together 34 nations in the Asian region takes place from October 8 -10 in Bangkok under the theme "One Asia, Diverse Strength".

Official level discussions have commenced between Sri Lanka and Iran on reviving trade agreements that were signed between the two countries and will be put into operation soon after ironing out technicalities, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen said.

Pakistan on Friday (September 30) officially postponed the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 9 and 10. A new set of dates for holding the Summit will be announced soon through the Chair of SAARC (Nepal), reports said.

Due to the prevailing drought, water levels of the main reservoirs have dropped to half its capacity, with authorities warning that drastic measures may need to be taken if water is to be continuously released from the reservoirs for power generation.

To avert a possible dengue outbreak in the next three months, when the number of mosquito breeding sites are likely to surge with the monsoon rains, the Dengue Control Unit of the Health Ministry will launch an island-wide Dengue Control Week starting on Tuesday, September 27 to Monday, October 3.

Sir Richard Jolly, former Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, and Special Adviser to the Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (1996 to 2000), and Principal Coordinator of the widely-acclaimed Human Development Report will deliver a lecture on, “Development: Can Sri Lanka be a model for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs)?” on September 28 at 5 pm at the BMICH Committee Room D, on the invitation of the Gamani Corea Foundation.

Richmondite Charith Asalanka joined the elite band of school cricketers by winning the coveted Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year 2016 title for the second year in succession emulating the feats of former Sri Lankan greats Arjuna Ranatunga, 1980/82' ( Ananda) Roshan Mahanama, 1983/84'(Nalanda) Thilan Samaraweera 1994/95' ( Ananda) 'Lahiru Peiris 2004/2005 (St.Peter's) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2010'2011 (Royal) who had also won the award twice .

Cricketing legend and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will grace the occasion at the 38th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards night scheduled to take place at the Galadari Hotel on September 20.

Stern action will be taken against traders who sell sugar above the controlled price of Rs. 95. Instructions have been given to the relevant authorities to launch island-wide search operations, a press communique from the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said.

Refuting speculations, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, no decision has been taken to impose power cuts on account of the current dry spell in the country.

Sri Lanka enjoys a
rich heritage of culture and arts. Most
of her paintings are in great demand
both locally and internationally with
some ranging from Rs. 10,000 – Rs.
200,000. Here a tourist stops by to
inquire about such paintings at Ananda
Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. Pic:
Vipula Amarasinghe

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Investigations fast-tracked, results soon:

Govt will deliver the goods as pledged

State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said
that the current political culture where a SLFP President and UNP
Prime Minister and the Cabinet work in unison is a new political
experience whereby they will deliver the goods to the people as
pledged. The Government has already achieved some of the targets
pledged to the people.

President takes wing to India

President Maithripala Sirisena will fly to India
this evening making his first State visit overseas since his
election to office on January 8. He was invited for a State visit by
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephone exchange, as the
first State leader to congratulate the newly elected President.

Duminda’s interrogation; CID to quiz top State officials

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
which recorded a lengthy statement from Colombo District UPFA
parliamentarian Duminda Silva will question several top State
officials of the former regime, police sources said. The CID on
Friday appointed three special teams,

US pledges to work more closely with Lanka

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US
commended the election of the new Government that has pledged to
work for greater accountability, democracy and fight corruption in
Sri Lanka. Kerry told the media, prior to a meeting with Foreign
Minister Mangala Samaraweera in Washington,

Govt will build houses for plantation community

The National Unity Government will address the
housing problem of the plantation community by launching a series of
housing projects during its 100-day program, State Minister for
Plantation Industries K. Velayutham told the Sunday Observer
yesterday.